Sociology

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Open Access
An Analysis of Protest Paradigm in News Media and Contention in 2020 Racial Injustice and Policing Protests in North Carolina
(East Carolina University, July 2024) Philbrook, Lily Ana; Dr. Kirk Miller; Dr. Kristen Myers; Dr. Melinda Kane
In 2020, there was a wave of racial injustice and policing protests that occurred across the globe after the murder of George Floyd. Although racial injustice and policing protests are not a new phenomenon, sociologists have not yet systematically examined either the empirical patterns of contentiousness of protests or adequately applied theories of media coverage to the racial injustice and policing protests of 2020. Using a sample of protest events from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, a team of sociologists gathered a sample of protest news articles from the NewsBank USA news archive database. Using this data, I conduct Protest Event Analysis (PEA) using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) software to measure the contentiousness of the protests and the sentiment of the news coverage of these protests during this time period. The thesis tests theories of contention and media coverage of protest by modeling the effects of a variety of community characteristics on these outcomes. The research results provide limited support for community measures expected to be associated with protest contention and protest media coverage.
Open Access
Muslim Americans and Symbolic Boundaries: A Trend Study
(East Carolina University, 2023-05-04) Ziglar, Hamza; Sociology
The Muslim American community is a unique social group that has had some research conducted on it, but not much has been done to assist this group with combatting discrimination and Islamophobia. The Pew Research Center has conducted Muslim American surveys from 2007-2017 in which they have shown a steady increase in the number of Muslims in America. These numbers show that the Muslim American population has increased from 2.35 million in 2007 to 2.75 million in 2011 to 3.45 million in 2017. In this study, I seek to create a linear profile of the members of the Muslim American community by applying the theory of symbolic boundaries as well as identifying and explaining three main themes. First, I examine religious attitudinal values: religious identity vs national identity, importance of religion, views on wearing the hijab, and belief in a meritocracy in the United States. Second, I examine religious adherence values; mosque attendance and daily prayer. Third, I examine core social attitudinal values; interpretation of the teaching of Islam, perception of the role of immigrants in American society, and potential conflicts between Islam and modern society. Furthermore, I seek to identify if Muslim Americans possess a higher religious identity than national identity, whether or not Muslim Americans will abandon the rituals and beliefs of their religion in order to fit into American society, and if national identity will waver depending on the national / political climate during each survey year.
Open Access
Community Lost? Changes and Stratification in Perceived Neighborhood Social Cohesion among Families with Children
(2022) Campbell, Colin; et al
Open Access
Timing and Persistence of Material Hardship Among Children in the United States
(2022-05-14) Campbell, Colin; O’Brien, Grant; Tumin, Dmitry
Open Access
The Black community and bodily autonomy : where do we go from here?
(East Carolina University, 2022-05-12) King, Nykaysia; Pearce, Susan C; Sociology
Through this thesis I sought to add to the literature regarding the influence of pervasive police brutality on young Black people. In it I explore the relationship between police brutality and influence on Black people's bodily autonomy by gender, gender identity, and sexuality. Through the lenses of Afro-Pessimism and Intersectionality, I find that the pervasive culture of police violence influences the bodily autonomy of young Black people. This influence varies by gender, gender identity, and sexuality, mirroring the policing of Black people's bodies throughout history. As such, I advocate for structural change in policing such that young Black people can self-autonomize and self-actualize as full human beings whose lives matter and have independent meaning.
Open Access
PROTESTING THE POLICE: HOW SITUATIONAL THREATS ELICIT POLICE REPRESSION AT PROTEST EVENTS TARGETING THE POLICE.
(East Carolina University, 2022-05-13) Horne, Gabrielle Maria; Edwards, Bob, 1958-; Sociology
Protests challenging the police pose a significant reputational threat to law enforcement. The threat hypothesis states that police repression is motivated by the desire to maintain social control, and when threats arise, police will act to incapacitate them. Reputational threat literature has established that police are more likely to be present and intervene at protests with goals challenging them. However, an investigation of police action at only protests that target the police has yet to be conducted. Using the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), all protest events from the month of June 2020 with goals targeting the police (n=5,900) - in support of BLM, anti-police brutality, against the death of George Floyd or other minority individuals killed by police, and other goals seeking to remove the social control of police - were analyzed to investigate how police intervene (arrest, use force/violence, or both arrest and use force/violence) at these events when situational threats are present. The results of this study illustrate police are more likely to intervene at protests targeting them when situational threats were present. Furthermore, the forms of situational threats present elicited different forms of policing interventions.
Open Access
Paradigms as exemplars
(East Carolina University) Norris, Jay J.; Rhea, Buford
Open Access
Cross-National Variation in Aggregate Levels of Life Satisfaction of Gay Men
(East Carolina University, 2021-01-07) Morris, Hannah; Kane, Melinda D; Sociology
This project examined the cross-national variation in aggregate levels of life satisfaction of gay men. Using data from the Gay Happiness Index, the World Values Survey, the European Values Study, the International Lesbian, Gay, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA), and other secondary sources, I analyzed the determinants of life satisfaction for gay men in 76 countries. Aggregate levels of life satisfaction for gay men were expected to be influenced by the same determinants of life satisfaction for the general population, which included cultural factors such as a country's dominant religion, level of religiosity, and gender equality and socio-political factors such as a country's level of democracy and economic development, as supported by existing literature. Factors unique to the population, however, could also influence aggregate levels of life satisfaction of gay men. Specifically, I expected aggregate levels of public opinion toward gay men and country-level legislation dealing with the criminalization, recognition, and protection of sexual minority populations to significantly influence national-levels of life satisfaction among gay men. Several ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models were used to analyze the data. Aggregate levels of life satisfaction for the general population, as ascertained by the World Values Survey and the European Values Study, were used to better understand what factors may be unique determinants of the life satisfaction of gay men. This study took something traditionally viewed with a microsociological lens and brought it to the macrosociological stage by analyzing cross-national variation in aggregate levels of life satisfaction within the cultural and socio-political context. The results of this study helped to identify the factors that influence life satisfaction for sexual minority groups, and they should prove useful for policy makers who aim to increase country level life satisfaction and increase the life quality of sexual minority populations.
Open Access
Multiple Partner Fertility and Access to Social Support
(East Carolina University, 2020-11-18) Walker, Jasmine; Campbell, Colin; Sociology
Social support helps individuals manage problems and make ends meet. However, access to social support varies across groups and by sociodemographic characteristics. Past studies have found that multiple partner fertility is associated with decreased access to social support. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, I expand on these studies by (1) examining both received instrumental support and perceived expressive support, (2) by separately examining social support from maternal kin and paternal kin, and (3) by examining social support available both to mothers and to their children. I find that multiple partner fertility is negatively associated with both instrumental and expressive support from paternal family, but is not associated with support from maternal family. Expanding on previous studies that find decreased access to social support due to multiple partner fertility, my research shows that this finding is driven by decreases in support from paternal kin.
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A Sociological Analysis of the Relationship Status of Mothers Following a Nonmarital Birth
(East Carolina University, 2020-06-22) Fox, Keely Maelynn; Campbell, Colin
The purpose of this work was to understand relationship transitions that unmarried parents experience after a nonmarital birth. This thesis uses data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a longitudinal survey of approximately 5,000 families from 20 cities with more than 200,000 residents across the United States. This thesis examines the extent to which factors such as health, financial resources, and relationship commitment are associated with relationship status five years after a non-marital birth among mothers. The findings show that health is not associated with relationship status, but relationship commitment and financial resources are both associated with the likelihood of marriage or cohabitation five years after experiencing a nonmarital birth.
Open Access
THE IMPACT OF FORMAL AND INFORMAL CONTROLS ON RECIDIVISM IN NORWAY AND THE UNITED STATES: THE CASE OF NORTH DAKOTA PRISON EXPERIMENT
(East Carolina University) Hilliard, Taylor E; Juska, Arunus
The goal of this research is to investigate to what degree the differences in recidivism rates can be accounted by differences in the dynamics of interaction between informal and formal aspects of prison organizations and their cultures in the United States and Norway. Effectiveness of prison policies as impacted by interactions of informal and formal groups within and outside the correctional systems is analyzed by using U.S. and Scandinavian Census data, official reports, and secondary literature review. Data on the North Dakota Prison Experiment was collected on a visit to two of North Dakota's correctional facilities. A counselor from the Organization for Families and Friends of Prisoners based out of Oslo, Norway was also interviewed. Scandinavian policy implications for strategies to reduce recidivism in the United States are discussed.
Open Access
THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF CHILDHOOD IN AMERICAN FILMS (1927-2018)
(East Carolina University, 2019-12-10) Lucas, Sherrie; Jacobs, Andrew James, 1963-; Sociology
This study explored the social construction of childhood in American films from 1927-2018. A content analysis of 30 films was conducted. The sample consisted of films that were near the top of the list of the highest grossing films of the year and that featured a child in a lead or supporting role. Data were obtained to examine children's character and role types; children's activities, locations, coactors, behaviors, and characteristics; and the attitudes and behaviors of adults towards children. Children were overwhelmingly portrayed negatively, stereotypically, and in need of socialization to become fully evolved adults. In relation to adults, children were oppressed and controlled while being socialized, enculturated, and used in adult plans to achieve selfish ends. However, positive portrayals included children being helpful and caring, intelligent, deserving of empathy and protection, and competent in interpreting and acting on their social world. These themes were explained within the context of significant sociohistorical factors occurring between 1927 and 2018. Finally, childhood as a social construct was positioned and explained within a larger system of hegemonic power.
Open Access
College Spillover Effects; Reassessing Whites' Racial Beliefs and Policy Attitudes
(East Carolina University, 2018-07-23) Johnson, Jerry, Jr; Corra, Mamadi; Sociology
College educated people hold distinct racial beliefs and policy attitudes from people who did not attend college. The current study examines "College Spillover Effects." Specifically, does the effect of a college education on racial beliefs and policy attitudes also impact those dispositions in people who did not go to college but hold close social ties with a college graduate? While existing research on racial attitudes does not address college spillover effects, college educated Whites have been associated with decreased odds of holding racist beliefs, and with no such association to support for policies that would address racial inequality. Using cumulative data from the General Social Survey, I compare two groups of White high school graduates; (1) those married to White high school graduates, and (2) those married to White College graduates. Logistic and Ordered Logistic regression models reveal that there are college spillover effects in White couples with differing levels of education, net of relevant control variables. In general, White high school graduates married to college graduates exhibit decreased odds of holding racist beliefs and decreased odds of strongly opposing race-targeting policies than those married to other high school graduates. College spillover effects were not found in support for Affirmative action, though females exhibit decreased odds of strongly opposing these programs. Additionally, as age and income increases, so do the odds for strongly opposing preferential hiring of blacks. The idea of When and Why the effects that college has on racial beliefs and policy attitudes would spillover in social groups is discussed, and suggestions for future research are noted.
Open Access
American Born Imams: Negotiating Clerical Responsibilities and Expectations
(East Carolina University, 2017-05-03) Askar, Anas; Maril, Robert Lee; Sociology
This inductive, exploratory study seeks to understand in detail the personal perspectives and career paths that American born Imams experience as they become religious leaders. In doing so, this study will examine their objectives and goals for the religious communities in which they reside and are integrally related. More specifically, this study analyzes the responsibilities and expectations with which imams must contend on a daily basis. Symbolic interactionism frames these issues and, at the same time, is the driving force behind an understanding of the imams' experiences as well as those of other important actors in Muslim communities. Employing structured and in-depth interviews, this convenience sample of American born imams addresses key questions which inductively give rise to three major themes: imams currently receive inadequate training for their positions as religious leaders in their communities; the relationship between the mosque board and an imam can directly reinforce or mitigate against problems within the religious community; and certain fundamental advantages along with disadvantages emerge for imams who are American born.
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Which Resources Matter? : Resources And The Impact Of North Carolina Environmental Organizations
(East Carolina University, 2015) Saville, Anne; Edwards, Bob, 1958-; Sociology
This paper focuses on the role that resources have in predicting the impact of an environmental organizations. This study contributes to an emerging stream of research literature on social movements that explicitly uses these recent refinements in resource mobilization theory (RMT) to examine the importance of resources for understanding social movements and social movement organizations (SMOs). Two broad questions will be answered in this study. 1) To what extent do SMOs with access to greater amounts of varied resource types have greater impact on policy and gain increased recognition and support? 2) Are some resource types more strongly associated with impacts than others? SMOs are able to survive and create outcomes through the mobilization of resources. However, relatively little attention has been given to the study of the relationship between movement organization impacts and the variations in resources mobilized, organizational form, social change strategies, and activities. In keeping consistent with RMT, I expect that access to social capital, organizational form, material resources, human resources, cultural resources, and moral resources are important factors for explaining organizational outcomes. I hypothesize that social capital, organizational form, material resources, human resources, cultural resources, and moral resources are positively related to perceived organizational impact. Additionally, I expect to find that some resources play a bigger role in organizational impact than others. North Carolina environmental organizations are used as the sample since North Carolina is an average state when it comes to environmental standards. This thesis will analyze the relationship between resources and the impact of environmental organizations by using OLS regression models. Resources have been proven to be necessary in SMO emergence and other aspects; however, this study has reiterated the importance of resources in organizational impact. Resources are vital for organizations to meet their goals. Without a combination of social capital, organizational form resources, material resources, human resources, cultural resources, and moral resources, organizations are less likely to have an impact on policy and recognition and awareness. In other words, obtaining only one category of resources is not enough for achieve organizational impact.
Open Access
Generational Differences and Predictors of Variance in Marital Attitudes among Men
(East Carolina University, 2015) Lampert, Chloe; Van Willigen, Marieke, 1966-; Sociology
The rise of cohabitation, premarital sex, childbearing outside of marriage, and a higher average age for first marriage allude to changes in the institution of marriage, and perhaps a changing society. According to a 2010 Pew Research Center report, 22% of Millennials are married, while a third of Generation X’s and over 40% of the Baby Boomers were married when they were the same age. Much of the literature groups men homogenously, so this study chose to focus on men and the potential differences between them, specifically regarding marital attitudes. Literature suggests that marital attitudes may have changed due to a transformation in gender ideology, and that there are differences between generations regarding marital attitudes. The most talked about difference in the literature is that of between the newest generation of adults, the Millennials, and all previous generations that are still living. The main purpose of this study was to see if there are differences in marital attitudes between the Millennial men, men of Generation X, the Baby Boomer men, and men of the Silent Generation. Using data from the 2010 Changing American Family Survey, statistical analyses were conducted to determine if a real difference exists between men of Millennial generation and men of all previous generations, and to see how marital attitudes may vary between different social groups of men. Bivariate analyses found that the Millennials are evenly divided on how they feel about the institution of marriage, while multivariate analyses found that the Millennials aren’t significantly different from the Generation X’s. The significant difference is between Generation X and the combined Silent/Boomer generation. This difference is maintained across all regression models. While gender ideology does predict attitudes about marriage, it does not explain the generational differences in attitudes among men suggesting that other factors are at play.
Open Access
Predictors of Perceptions toward the Confederate Flag : The Impacts of Social Class and Sub-Regional Differences
(East Carolina University, 2015) Talbert, Ryan; Corra, Mamadi; Sociology
Individuals typically fall within one of two categories when perceiving the Confederate flag: one, that it reflects Southern culture and regional pride, or two, that it represents racism and hatred. This work makes a case for the addition of social class and sub-regional residence to the understanding of perceptions toward the Confederate flag. I utilize two separate datasets, one that allows control for racial attitudes, and the other a control for Southern identity. In the former, I test the effects of social class and sub-regional residence in predicting whether a person supports the removal of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina Capitol, and in the latter, I test whether a respondent has a negative reaction to the Confederate flag. These analyses show that in both national samples, social class has an independent effect on perceptions to the flag. Respondents of the upper class are more likely to reject the public display of the flag and to have a negative reaction when presented with the symbol relative to members of the lower class. This thesis also shows that not only does being from the Non-South and Border States predict a stronger likelihood of wanting the Confederate flag removed relative to the Deep South respondents, but that different factors matter within the four sub-regions in predicting perception toward flag. For example, being from a rural area statistically predicts perception toward the flag only within the Deep South. In line with previous research, racial attitudes, Southern identity, and race, among other variables, predict flag perceptions. Further split model analyses show that key independent variables contrast among Black and White respondents, and lower, middle, and upper class respondents. Results are consistent with both symbolic politics theory and racial threat theory.
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A Critical Look at Campus Climate After Institutional Changes
(East Carolina University, 2015) Ayers, Marianne; Kane, Melinda D.; Sociology
This study examines the impact of institutional changes on campus climate. Conditions continue to be problematic for LGBTQ students, faculty and staff on college and university campuses, so many institutions are taking active steps to improve climate. There is a void in the literature exploring the impact of change to the perception of campus climate through institutional programming, and this study contributes to that research. Through this study, I examine how recent policy and program changes impact the LGBT campus climate at a large public institution located within a relatively hostile geographic environment. To evaluate potential shifts in campus climate, I conducted in depth interviews of 15 LGBT identified faculty, staff and students who were present before and after institutional changes were implemented. Respondents noted positive changes in campus climate over the last four years, but also stressed that homophobia and homophobic incidences continue to occur despite the improvements in climate. Respondents mentioned several institutional changes as evidence of the university's commitment to support the LGBT community such as the establishment of the LGBT Resource Office, Queer Counseling group, and supportive leadership. I hope to contribute to the literature on LGBT issues in higher education by addressing the degree to which changes in institutional procedures and programs made by administrators can actually influence perceptions of campus climate.
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How Does it Feel to be a Problem? : Race, Sexuality and the Black College
(East Carolina University, 2014) Lang, Marissa Nichole; Pearce, Susan C.; Sociology
This project examines the climate of the Historically Black College as it pertains to acceptance of sexual minorities. Many studies have tested for attitudes towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) groups at Predominantly White Universities (PWUs), but have failed to inlcude Black higher education in the discussion. This study fills the scholarly gap addressing students' attitudes towards lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) persons at the site of the Historically Black College. The objective of this project is to examine why attitudes towards LGB groups might be different on the campus of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in comparison to Predominantly White Universities. In addition, this study aims to open an academic segue to include Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the greater scholarly dialogue regarding sexual minorities and higher education.
Open Access
Human-Animal Bond : Attachment vs. Objectification
(East Carolina University, 2013) Walton, Magdalen J.; Reiser, Christa, 1947-; Sociology
The bond between human beings and their pets is multi-faceted. Some doting "parents" view their companion animals as members of their families, while others maintain the more traditional expectation of service or commodification. Similar to the diversity evident in pet ownership, the relationship between humans and farm animals also varies broadly. Livestock on family farms are treated as sentient beings where they are properly socialized and treated respectfully. In dramatic contrast, factory raised farm animals are treated inhumanely. Research has shown that human-pet relationships can influence our level of concern and knowledge for other animals. However, little if any research has been done to examine if relationships with companion animals influence concern for animals raised in factory farms. In order to evaluate this relationship, a quantitative telephone survey of pet owners in Pitt County, North Carolina was conducted. Respondents were asked a series of questions about their relationships with their pets which allowed them to be placed in one of three categories of human-pet bond: humanist, protectionist, or dominionist as described by David Blouin (2009). Respondents were also asked a series of questions about their concern for and knowledge of industrialized raised farm animals. The purpose of this study was to examine whether pet owners' type of emotional attachment to their own animal or animals influenced their level of knowledge and concern for factory-raised farm animals. This study displayed that pet owners could loosely be placed into one of Blouin's three orientations of human-pet bond using a simple qualitative sample. However, the typology needs revision. The type of human-pet bond was not found to influence level of knowledge of factory-raised farm animals, but was related to level of concern for the animals.